“Super 6” Must Be Punished
The owners of those six clubs may of bottled it and removed their plans to set up a poncy non competitive, pretentious league elsewhere after fiery backlashes from the fans but this is something that has been years in the making and will happen again in some way shape or form if these clubs aren’t sanctioned heavily for their actions.
The way they threatened to destroy our game and the disgusting sense of entitlement they have shown in addition to the total disregard they have shown their fellow competitors deserves the strongest possible punishment.
These are club owners who thought they could monopolise the dream of every club that is to play in European competition and pocket an extourtianate 3 billion plus pounds that would almost certainly also monopolise the the top six positions in the Premier League.
All of these owners and club hierarchies have shown zero regard for the long traditions of football in this country and as shown with the backlash the league recieved - had no communications with not only supporters, but the managers and players that would be expected to play in this American style franchise shit.
Football’s hierarchy always changes through time in football and especially in England. When I got into football in 1999/00 it was Manchester United and Arsenal going for the top honours with Leeds and Liverpool on their tails. Newcastle United were perhaps next in command. Man City were in Division One and Spurs were just the bang average club they are but without a fancy billion pound stadium. Leicester have won the league since. Wigan, Birmingham and Swansea have won silverware more recently than Spurs, whose last league title can only be remembered by people old enough to collect a pension.
Teams need to protect themselves financiallybut as Leeds United so poignetently quoted on a banner at Elland Road on Monday, it needs to be earnt on the pitch. They need to do it in the accounts and finace departments too. Only 4 of the “big 6” can qualify for the Champions League and the riches it brings each year. This year it looks possible only two will, with Leicester and West Ham well placed for a top four finish. So these clubs need to wake up and not balance their books around future and hypothetical qualification for Europe’s premier competition. That was the true reason for the creation of this league, so they can protect their own pockets and GUARANTEE a seat at the top table each season. It goes agaisnt every sporting moral.
Leeds United fans do not need telling twice about the implications of financing for Champions League qualification, only not to qualify. It has taken nearly two decades for the club to pick up their peices and we now finally look to be emerging from the dark tunnel we were thrown down.
Which is why, although im glad the six clubs have removed their involvement I strongly want to see them suffer a major punishment. A fine, no matter how big wont hurt them, a new offical toilet roll partner will pay for that. A reasonable penalty in my opinion would be a hefty points deduction, say 20 points at the start of NEXT SEASON. What I really would like to see, and it may seem like a biased Leeds fan wanting the top competition gone, but I believe relegating all six clubs and promoting the Championships top six should happen. Only three of them at most would be able to immediately return next season and they would struggle to keep their top players and opens up a route into Europe for other clubs. The complete opposite to what they tried to propose. The self concious owners of those clubs need a massive punch on the nose and taught a lesson that they cannot transfrom our beloved game into their play thing.
Yes, it is harsh on the innocent fans of those clubs but we know all about suffering the consequences of poor owners only too well. The real supporters will still be there and be galavanised into helping their club return alas Leeds and Rangers. The only fans they will lose are the social media followers, selfie stick holders and fake club shirt brigade abroad. No loss! The fans may even enjoy the new experience of football in a purer form and the chance to visit new grounds.
All other 14 Premier League clubs were unaminous of their disgust in the other six’s proposal and it should be done to those clubs to vote on what punishment should be handed out. A bit like 2007 when each EFL club were asked if they should dock Leeds 15 points.
These past few days however have been another moment to be proud of our own club. As mentioned earlier we have had numerous occasions to feel betrayed by supposedly custodians of Leeds but it feels like we are the good guys especially with the strange feeling of everybody supporting us agaisnt Liverpool on Monday Night. The shithousing social media points won calling them “Merseyside Reds” and putting the “Earn it - Football is for Fans” T-shirts in the away dressing room was just a welcome bonus.
We’ve suffered the consequences of stupid actions of our club owners and now the glory boys of the top six should experience the same.
By Lawrence O’Sullivan
